DENR assures Boracay Tubi will be penalized over outfall discharge

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is currently determining the liabilities Boracay Tubi System Inc. (BTSI) should be held accountable in connection with the underwater pipe spweing out feces in Boracay.

DENR Sec. Roy Cimatu said on Friday that Pollution Adjudication Board was in the process of determining the company’s liability after Environmental Management Bureau – Region 6 submitted its findings.

The BTSI outfall met standards as the fecal coliform level was down to one most probable number per 100 milliliters (1 mpn/100ml. Initial testing by the DENR found that the outfall discharge had a fecal coliform level as high as 3,500 mpn/100ml when the effluent standard was 400 mpn/100ml.

Cimatu said that BTSI could be penalized if proven guilty on the incident.

“The viral video came out on September 11. We took otice of it. That time the coliform reached 3,500. On September 19, we issued a cease and desist order and on September 21, they stopped their operation. We gave them instructions to clean up or correct. September 23, kumuha uli ng sample at 1mpn na lang, so compliant na sila,” said Cimatu at the Senate hearing for DENR’s 2020 budget.

BTSI promised to cooperate with the agency’s investigation.

“We take this incident seriously and wish to reassure the public that there is no direct discharging of untreated wastewater into the open sea. All wastewater is being treated on-site at the individual sewage treatment plans of establishments,” BTSI said in a statement.

(With reports from Bombo Christian Yosores)